Spurrier talks about the quarterbacks
5/7/2008 12:19 AM   0 comments on this story E-mail this story to a friend

By CAM HUFFMAN
Sports Editor
It is hard to mention the name Steve Spurrier without getting the mental picture of a strong-armed quarterback throwing the ball all over the lot. The South Carolina coach did that himself as the 1966 Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Florida, and he has coached a slew of players who have done the same. During his time on the sidelines at Duke and later UF, Spurrier developed a reputation for finding and coaching players who could put up passing numbers usually reserved for video games.
Since his arrival in Columbia in 2005, "The Head Ball Coach" has yet to put that type of passer on the field. Blake Mitchell had an up and down season that first year, and in 2006 he was splitting time with Syvelle Newton as he battled injuries and off-the-field issues.
Last fall, in Mitchell's senior season, Spurrier ended up giving the starting job to sophomore Chris Smelley, but he never could find a go-to passer as his Gamecocks struggled down the stretch.
Just who will take the snaps and throw the darts this fall was the major question in spring drills, but Spurrier and USC ended the practice sessions still without a clear-cut No. 1 man. Smelley is back, as is Tommy Beecher, who saw action in all 12 games last season but threw only 23 passes.
Please see SPURRIER, page 2B
Neither stepped up to take control of the job, and another back-and-forth battle throughout the season looks as though it could be a possibility.
"We are what we are," said Spurrier Tuesday at the Aiken County Gamecock Club's spring meeting at the USC Aiken Convocation Center. "Tommy Beecher and Chris Smelley are probably our top two right now. If we had to play tomorrow, Tommy Beecher would be our quarterback. But who knows. During the summer, maybe Chris Smelley can improve."
Spurrier, however, looked and sounded anything but excited as he discussed the situation.
"Neither one of them have done much," said Spurrier. "I guess I just have to do a better job coaching those guys."
The coach's possibilities at that position have also been greatly deterred by the constant soap opera that is Stephen Garcia. One of the top quarterback recruits in the country when he signed with USC prior to the 2007 season, Garcia has yet to see the field and has rarely even seen the practice field. Garcia was suspended until Aug. 15 when he was cited for underage drinking in March, the third time he had been arrested or cited in 15 months on the USC campus. The anything-but-typical quarterback with the long flowing hair and a cannon for an arm missed out on spring drills, and he must clear a series of hurdles before he can even apply to be readmitted to the university in August.
"We will wait and see if he comes back, but we can't worry about him right now," said Spurrier of the Tampa-area native. "He has a lot of requirements to fulfill this summer in order to be admitted back to our university. We are not putting all our marbles in one hat for him. If he comes back, we will give him an opportunity, but he has been at Carolina for two spring practices and been suspended for both of them."
Another quarterback will be entering the fold this fall when former Strom Thurmond standout Aramis Hillary takes to the practice field, but Spurrier admitted that he plans to redshirt the brother of Appalachian State receiver Coco Hillary to get him ready to enter the mix in 2009.
"It is hard to play a true freshman, but we are really happy with Aramis," said Spurrier. "He loves football and everything about it. He is going to be a good player for us."
Some recruiting services projected that Hillary would eventually change positions, but Spurrier is insistent that the Rebel signal caller will not change roles.
"He is a quarterback all the way," said the 63-year-old coach who demands perfection from his offenses. "He is a good passer, and the ability to avoid people is what you have to have now.
"The best offense we had was when Syvelle Newton played," Spurrier continued. "He could dodge people on third down and keep drives going. We haven't been nearly as efficient (without him). A quarterback has to be able to move and run a few times a game. We don't want a guy to run as much as a West Virginia quarterback, we are not into that, but every now and then he needs to jump out and make a few yards."
Spurrier's definition of a quarterback may be slowly changing, and although he may not find what he is looking for this season, Hillary may be in the perfect position to become the future of South Carolina football.

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